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These Valentine’s Day muddy buddies are one of the easiest no-bake sweet treats you can make for Valentine’s Day. Crunchy, sweet, and coated in powdered sugar, this festive puppy chow is made with pink and red candy melts, M&M’s, and sprinkles for a fun pop of color.
Whether you’re making snack bowls, filling individual bags for gifting, or prepping a sweet treat for kids, this Valentine’s muddy buddies recipe comes together fast and stores beautifully.
Looking for more Valentine’s Day recipes? I know you’ll love 18 No Bake Valentine’s Day Recipes for kids, Chewy Valentine’s Day Crinkle Chocolate Cookies with Sprinkles, Valentine’s Day Very Berry Healthy Smoothie, The best 18 Valentine’s day cookie ideas as well as the Healthy No Bake Cookies | Valentine’s Day.
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After making puppy chow for Christmas this year, I knew I had to recreate it with a Valentine’s Day twist, because let’s be honest, your girl loves pink.
This version is extra festive, using two different colors of candy melts to keep things fun and bright. I also mixed in Valentine’s Day M&M’s and heart sprinkles because I truly believe there’s no such thing as too much Valentine’s Day goodness.
I’m not going to lie, I had no idea what muddy buddies even were before moving to the U.S., but now I can’t imagine life without them. They’re sweet, crunchy, incredibly easy to make, and pack so much flavor in every bite.
These were a huge hit with my family and friends, even my picky sister said this was her favorite version! So I think it’s safe to say this Valentine’s Day muddy buddies recipe is a winner.
Why you need to make this recipe!
- It’s so easy to make.
- This recipe is kid friendly.
- Muddy buddies store so well and can be made ahead of time.
- If you are trying to make muddy buddies for a different holiday, you can still use this as a base and change the colors of the sprinkles, candy melts, and M&M’s.
Ingredients for this Valentine’s day puppy chow.
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this muddy buddy recipe. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.
- Pink and red candy melts– Usually for puppy chow I like to use chocolat ebut instead we are using candy melts to get that perfect color.
- Chex cereal – Nothing more iconic than Chex cereal to use in muddy buddies.
- Powdered sugar– The powdered sugar is what we will coat the candy melt coated Chex cereal with.
- Oil– You want a neutral flavored oil to thin out the candy melt a bit.
- Valentine’s day M&M’s – This will be mixed it at the end to add a little ompth to our puppy chow. Also it’s pink, white, and red, I mean how can you say no to that!!
- V-day sprinkles– You can use whichever sprinkles you’d like as long as they are V-day inspired. I uses little hearts. Ugh so cute!!!!
How to make Vday muddy buddies?
This is how you can make valentine’s day muddy buddies Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
- Divide the Chex cereal in two separate bowls.
- Melt the pink candy melt with 1 tsp oil in 30 second increments in the microwave until fully melted.
- Pour over chex mix, gently fold until it is coated in that mixture.
- Place the mixture in a ziplock bag and add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and shake to coat. Pour everything on wax paper lined baking sheet.
- Repeat that process with the red candy melts, oil, and leftover Chex cereal. Coat with the powdered sugar and place on the wax paper covered baking sheet.
- Let the muddy buddies set for 30 minutes them mix in the M&m’s and sprinkles.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Troubleshooting
- Making ahead? These store best in an airtight container at room temperature or in the freezer for longer storage.
- Candy melts too thick? Add oil in small amounts and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring well each time.
- Powdered sugar not sticking? Make sure the coated Chex cereal is still slightly warm before shaking in the ziplock bag.
- Clumping too much? Spread the muddy buddies out on a wax paper–lined baking sheet and gently break them apart as they set.
- Want brighter colors? Use separate bowls and let each color set slightly before mixing everything together.
Frequently asked questions – FAQ
Yes! This muddy buddies recipe already makes a generous batch, but you can easily double or triple it using the recipe card if you’re making it for parties, kids, or gifting.
Store muddy buddies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer freshness, keep them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Yes! Muddy buddies freeze very well. Store them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving, or enjoy them cold straight from the freezer.
Candy melts help keep the pink and red colors vibrant and festive. Chocolate can work too, but candy melts are easier to control and don’t require tempering or having to use specialty food coloring (oil-based coloring to make sure it doesn’t seize)
Absolutely. This Valentine’s puppy chow works as a base recipe, just swap the candy melts, sprinkles, and M&M’s for different colors to match any holiday.
Fun muddy buddies variations for this no bake valentine’s day recipe:
Even though we are making these specifically for Valentine’s day, here are a few add-ins that would work wonders for this recipe:
- Mix in some nuts, or even pretzels.
- Mix in some crushed cookies, think Oreos, nutter butter or even chocolate chip cookies.
- Drizzle with some extra chocolate or colored candy melts for a more fun color contrast.
Valentine’s day muddy buddies
Ingredients
- 7 cup Chex cereal divided
- 1 cup powdered sugar divided
- 1 cup pink candy melts
- 1 cup red candy melts
- 2 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup valentine's day M&M's
- 2/4 tbsp valentine's day sprinkles
Instructions
- Divide the Chex cereal into two separate bowls.
- Melt the pink candy melt with 1 tsp oil in 30-second increments in the microwave until fully melted.
- Pour over Chex mix, gently fold until it is coated in that mixture. If the candy melts seize and harden on you, you can always microwave everything for 15 seconds then stir to coat again.
- Place the mixture in a ziplock bag, add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and shake to coat. Pour everything on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and set aside.
- Repeat that process with the red candy melts, oil, and leftover Chex cereal. Coat with the powdered sugar and place on the wax paper-lined baking sheet.
- Let the muddy buddies set for 30 minutes then mix in the M&m's and sprinkles.
- Enjoy!
Notes
How to store Valentine’s muddy buddies?
You can store your puppy chow in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Storing it in the fridge on the other hand will allow you to keep it fresher for longer. Store it in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So delicious! My daughter and I made this and individually baged it for her classmates for Valentines Day!
I’m glad y’all enjoyed it!